Sending 5.14+ at 185+ Pounds -- Jonathan Horst is Crushing!

Ten 5.14s in a Four Months!

Twenty-two-year-old Jonathan Hörst has been on an absolute tear this year, capped by his first grade 9 ascent—Mutation (5.14d/9a), the hardest route at Wyoming’s Wild Iris.

After graduating from Penn State last year with a degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Jon devoted more time to climbing before starting a master’s in Nutritional Science at the University of Utah this August.

This spring, Jon dedicated time to new route development at the Red River Gorge before shifting his focus to “unfinished business” at Wild Iris and projecting at Wolf Point, one of the country’s premier high-end limestone crags.

Jon’s streak of hard sends is impressive by any standard—but for a “larger-bodied climber,” it’s arguably unmatched.

At 6’3″ and over 185 pounds (84+ kg), he’s not overweight, but he’s carrying 25–50 pounds more than the typical pro climber. That makes every send all the more remarkable.

Ticklist Highlights

So far this year, Jon amassed an incredible ticklist of 17 routes from 5.13d to 5.14d, including ten 5.14s—a remarkable feat for any climber, let alone one balancing training, travel, work, and school.

Notable Sends:

Mutation (5.14d) – Wild Iris (7/17/25)
Untwisted (5.14c) – Wolf Point (7/3/25)
Wolf It Down (5.14b) – Wolf Point (7/3/25)
Okami (5.14b) – Wolf Point (6/22/25)
Kill ‘Em All (5.14b) – Wolf Point (6/6/25)
Center Stage (5.14b) – Red River Gorge (First Ascent – 4/12/25)
Severance (5.14b) – Red River Gorge (First Ascent – 4/8/25)
L Half Cooked (5.14b) – Wild Iris (Third Ascent — 8/3/25)
Heart Full of Ghosts (5.14a) – Wild Iris (7/19/25)
King Thing (5.14a) – Wolf Point (6/2/25)

Other hard sends include:

Easy Prey (5.13d) – Wolf Point (6/2/25)
The Abortionist (5.13d) – Sinks Canyon (6/28/25)
The Euphoria of Peril (5.13d) – RRG (FA – 5/4/25)
Encore (5.13d) – RRG (FA – 4/26/25)
Poetry in Motion (5.13d) – RRG (FA – 4/1/25)
The Power Broker (5.13d) – RRG (FA – 3/29/25)
Dire Wolf (5.13d) – RRG (FA – 1/3/25)

Is Body Weight a Limiting Factor?

At 6’3″ and 185+ pounds, Jon defies the stereotype of the featherweight elite climber. Gripping tiny crimpers is naturally challenging for someone his size, but Jon has developed a unique style of dragging on small holds and excels at pulling hard on one- and two-finger pockets—skills that have helped propel him to the upper levels of the sport.

As a regular at the Red River Gorge, Jon has exceptional aerobic endurance, perfect for long, steep routes. He focuses his between-trip training on maximum strength and power, while maintaining overall fitness with a few weekly runs—including completing the Los Angeles Marathon in 2024—to keep his weight in the 180s and support stamina for long climbing days.

Jon’s Dietary Focus and Go-To PhysiVantage Stack

A self-professed foodie, Jon cooks most of his own meals daily—favoring nutrient-dense, animal-based whole foods alongside fresh fruits, vegetables, and homemade breads. To supplement his clean diet and support high training/climbing demands, Jon uses:

Supercharged Collagen (pre-workout)
Weapons-Grade Whey (post-workout recovery)
SENDURE-X® and FLOW (in-session endurance and focus)
VITALIUM and MAG-ATP (to meet micronutrient needs and support energy production)

Here Jon Tell His Story on The Struggle Podcast

Jon appeared on the August 6, 2025 episode of The Struggle Climbing Show. In this conversation with host Ryan Devlin, he shares his unique journey—from high school football player, to full-time biochemistry student, to soon-to-be master’s candidate in Nutritional Science.

Along the way, Jon has trained relentlessly for climbing, spent countless weekends traveling to crags, and taken a gap year as a self-described “climbing decathlete,” dabbling in big wall and alpine routes while also pushing his sport climbing ability beyond 5.14+.

Listen to Jonathan’s Struggle interview on Spotify >>

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